CARIBBEAN TODAY


PO I T I C S


 U.S. seeks closer relationship

with Muslim groups in Caribbean


BRIDGETOWN, Barbados,
CMC Muslim leaders from
several Caribbean islands last
month attended a ceremony
hosted by the United States
aimed at improving relations
and "cementing ties of friend-
ship".
 A statement issued by the
U.S. Embassy here said that
Ambassador Mary Ourisman
hosted an "Iftaar banquet"
for the Muslim leaders from
Antigua and Barbuda,
Barbados, St. Lucia and
St. Kitts and Nevis.
 "One of our country's
greatest strengths is the diver-
sity and richness of our many
religious traditions: Christians,
Jews, Muslims, Hindus,
Buddhists, people of many
faiths, and even some of no
religious affiliation at all live
together peacefully and in a


climate of mutual respect,"
the ambassador said.
 "On this special evening
we recognize our Muslim
friends in the Eastern
Caribbean. We celebrate the
millions of Muslims we are
proud to call American citi-
zens. We honor the many
Islamic nations that America
is proud to call friends. And
we renew the ties of friend-
ship that should bind all who
trace their faith back to God's
call on Abraham."

'SPECIAL'
 The statement quoted the
secretary of the Barbados
Muslim Association (BMA)
Sulieman Bulbulia as saying
that the event was a "special
and significant gLiLurL and
marked a "defining moment
in the establishment of what


we hope will be a mutually
beneficial relationship
between your embassy and
us".
 Bulbulia said events like
the Iftaar g< a long way in
building a climate of trust,
cordial relations and correct-
ing feelings of antagonism
and mistrust.
 "While we may not agree
with all the policies and pro-
grams of the American gov-
ernment and while there are
some who will use these dis-
agreements to promote a the-
ory of a clash of civilizations,
cultures and faiths, tonight by
our gathering we promote
instead a dialogue among civi-
lizations, cultures and faiths
based upon mutual respect
and tolerance," he added.
0


P.M. Golding makes unity call

as he takes office in Jamaica


KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC -
Orrett Bruce Golding took
office as Jamaica's eighth
prime minister on Sept. 11,
pleading with his predecessor
to join hands in a new politics
of cooperation, while pledging
to introduce measures to
stamp out corruption and ris-
ing crime and drive economic
growth in the country.
 The 59-year-old leader
said the Sept. 3 general elec-
tions, in which his Jamaica
Labour Party (JLP) ended 18
years in Opposition when it
secured a narrow victory over
the Portia Simpson Miller-led
People's National Party
(PNP), demonstrated the
need for a paradigm shift
from competitive politics into
nation-building initiatives in
governance.
 "In our two pairs of
hands (he told Simpson Miller
who was seated in the audi-
ence) rest so much of the
hopes of the people of
Jamaica. We have a choice.
Those hands can engage in
hand-to-hand combat or we
can join those hands together
to build a nation that is
strong, just, peaceful and


Golding takes the oath of office.


prosperous. I want to sit down
with you, Portia.
 "Let's talk about Jamaica.
Let's talk about the dream
that I believe we share for a
Jamaica whose people are at
peace with each other, where
equality and justice reign
supreme, where every child
can go to a good school and
every adult to a decent job,
where everyone might not be
rich, but no one has to be
poor," he said.

ANTI-GARRISON
 Speaking after taking the
oath of office before Governor


Serious Injuries Naturalization
* Auto Accidents Permanent Residence
* Cycle & Pedestrian Family Petitions
* Slip & Fall Business Visas
* Nursing Home Abuse e Deportation
* Wrongful Death A Political Asylum
 We Speak Francais, Creole & Espaiofl


I 305 377-9646 Fax: 305 377-9648


 General Professor
 Kenneth Hall and
 in the presence of
 thousands of people
 on the grounds of
 King's House the
 governor general's
 official residence -
 the new prime min-
 ister said the garri-
 son-type politics
 which characterized
 political life here
 should be a thing of
 the past.
 "We must
 retire the culture
 where one set of
Jamaicans speak of 'the gov-
ernment dem' as if it were a
hostile, alien force. I want to
see a new order in which all
the people will regard the
government, no matter which
party forms it, as 'our govern-
ment'," the prime minister
said.
 Pledging that he would be
the chief servant of the peo-
ple, Golding said within the
first 100 days of his adminis-
tration, policy initiatives
would be developed to point
the way towards how govern-
ment could protect the rights
of the people; reduce crime;
create an educated, produc-
tive workforce and attract
investments that could pro-
vide "real jobs." He said poli-
cy papers would also be creat-
ed to improve transparency
and accountability in govern-
ment while eliminating cor-
ruption; move towards a
strong Parliament and more
effective political representa-

(CONTINUED ON PAGE 19)


PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad,
CMC Prime Minister Patrick
Manning has announced Nov.
5 as the date for general elec-
tions in Trinidad and Tobago.
 In a brief statement to
Parliament on Sept. 28,
Manning said that Nomination
Day is Oct. 22.
 This will be the first time
that Trinidadians will vote for a
41-member Parliament. In the


CASTRIES, St. Lucia Sir
John Compton, St. Lucia's
I ,I IIL r of the Nation", died
early last month at age 82,
plunging the country he led for
over 30 years into two weeks
of mourning declared by the
government in his honor.
 Acting Prime Minister
Stephenson King was sworn
in on Sept. 9 as the island's
new prime minister.
 Sir John became the
country's first prime minister
after leading St. Lucia to
political Independence in
Feb. 1979. He led the country
from 1964-1979, 1982-1996
and from Dec. 2006.
 He served as chief minis-
ter, premier and prime minis-
ter at various periods. He
returned from political retire-
ment to lead his United


last 36-member Parliament, the
People's National Movement
(PNM) controlled 20 seats with
the remainder going to the
United National Congress and
the minority Congress of the
People (COP), a breakaway
faction of the UNC.

T&T ready to vote, page 25.
0


Compton
Workers Party (UWP) to a
stunning victory in last
December's general elections.

NO 'MARATHON'
 However, when Sir John
led the UWP back into the
corridors of power in
December, he made it clear
(CONTINUED ON PAGE 19)


 Ex-ruling party official wins

Opposition primary in Antigua


ST. JOHN'S, Antigua, CMC -
A former member of the
ruling United Progressive
Party (UPP) has gained the
Opposition Antigua Labour
Party's (ALP) backing as the
party sets about choosing can-
didates to contest the next
general elections in Antigua
and Barbuda.
 ALP officials confirmed
that Dean Jonas had secured 148
of the 314 ballots cast last month
to select the candidate for the St.
George's constituency.
 Jonas defeated attorney
Alincia Williams Grant, who
received 105 votes, while busi-
nessman Kendall Samuel got
62 votes.
 He later told the
Caribbean Media Corporation
(CMC) that he was confident
of defeating the incumbent Dr.
Jacqui Quinn-Leandro in the
polls scheduled for 2009.
 "I've really worked hard to
gain the confidence of the peo-
ple of St. George's," he said.
 Though Quinn-Leandro
opted not to comment on the
ALP candidate's statement,
she said she welcomed the
challenge.
 "The people of my con-
stituency will decide who can


best represent their interest,
who can best champion their
cause, who can best mediate
on their behalf," she said.
 "I think that democracy is
alive and well in the country. I
really think that the people of
St. George's will have to
decide. We have a very healthy
democracy in Antigua and
Barbuda and I certainly wel-
come any challenge it doesn't
matter who it is," she added.
 Jonas had served as UPP
public relations officer until he
left the party in 2004.
 "I grew up in the Antigua
Labour Party. I left the Antigua
Labour Party to join the UPP
because like many young per-
sons in Antigua who grew up in
Antigua, I saw one party in
power for the past 30 years and
many of us simply wanted a
change in government," he said.
 "Yes I did, in fact, leave
and join the UPP simply
because I wanted a change.
There were many young per-
sons like myself who just
wanted to see something dif-
ferent different but better -
but what we got was different
and worse."
0


T&T general elections Nov. 5


Sir John Compton, St. Lucia's


'Father of the Nation', is dead


October 2007


lwww.caribbeantoday.com 11